spice curry mokuromi: Japanese Spice Curry at a Six-Seat Counter

spice curry mokuromi (スパイスカレー モクロミ) is a one-man, six-seat counter that serves Japanese-style spice curry at lunch only. The fixture on the menu is pork vindaloo, a block of pork belly marinated in vinegar and tender enough to cut with a spoon. Beside it comes a second curry that changes weekly. It is often lamb, for example a keema (minced-meat curry) studded with mi-sansho, which are green Japanese peppercorns. Both arrive on one plate with dal, three or four seasonal vegetable sides and a house blend of Japanese, multigrain and basmati rice. The shop has been selected for Tabelog's curry "Tabelog 100" list six times since 2019, most recently in 2026.

Nearly every review singles out the vindaloo for its fruity sourness and soft meat. Diners repeatedly praise the rotating lamb curries for having no gaminess, and several compare the composed plate to a course meal. Guests appreciate the free rice refills. Many also mention that the owner walks each guest to the door.

Criticism is mild. Several reviewers find the prices a little high for curry. Opinions on heat are split: some found the spicing gentler than expected, while others found the sansho lamb fiery. Older reviews mention feeling rushed by the fixed sittings, and the entrance is easy to miss. One 2019 diner found the flavours weak.

In 2026, reviewers paid around ¥2,000 for the pork vindaloo plate, ¥2,500 for a two-curry plate and ¥2,800 for three curries. The listing puts typical lunch spend at ¥1,000–1,999, but recent bills run nearer ¥2,000–2,800. In 2022 a two-curry plate cost ¥1,500. There is no dinner service.

The value is good, with a caveat. Prices have risen steadily, and a few diners notice. Still, free refills, generous sides and the level of craft leave most reviewers satisfied, and many call it worth the trip.

• Getting there: about 11 minutes on foot from the west exit of Sengendai Station on the Tobu Skytree Line. Walk towards AEON Style Sengendai. The shop is in the two-storey building behind it, above a hair salon, at the far end of the 2nd floor past a karaoke café. Look for the Karaoke NOVA awning.
• Booking: you can walk in when a seat is free, but walk-ins are sometimes turned away, so booking is recommended. Book through the shop's official LINE account, which is linked from its Instagram. Messages are in Japanese, and same-day bookings often work.
• Sittings: five 40-minute sittings from 11:00. Wait on the stairs until you are called. Popular curries can sell out by the later sittings.
• Payment: cash only. Credit cards, electronic money and QR payments are not accepted.
• Seats: six counter seats on high stools, which are awkward for small children. There are no private rooms and no private hire. The counter suits solo diners well.
• Smoking: non-smoking.
• Parking: there is none on site. Use the paid AEON car park nearby.
• Menu: in Japanese. The weekly line-up is posted on Instagram.